What ISSN is
ISSN (International Standard Serial Number) identifies serial publications -- magazines, journals, and newspapers -- standardized as ISO 3297.
Generate it now
Enter an 8-digit ISSN, including the required dash after the fourth digit, to see a live preview.
Valid input
ISSN is 4 digits, a required dash, then 3 more digits and a Modulo-11 check digit (0-9, or the letter X for a computed value of 10); bwip-js validates both the dash position and the check digit, and rejects an ISSN that omits the dash or carries an incorrect check digit.
Key options
Supported options include includetext and height.
Output and printing
Export SVG for cover artwork or PNG for digital proofs.
Common uses
ISSN barcodes appear on the cover of magazines, journals, and other serial publications alongside the human-readable ISSN and issue number.
Example
See the live preview above, seeded with a bwip-js-verified valid ISSN.
Size guidance
bwip-js builds the ISSN symbol as an EAN-13 barcode carrying a "977" bookland/periodicals prefix, the ISSN digits, and a 2-digit issue sequence variant, so it shares EAN-13's quiet-zone and bar-height needs.
Troubleshooting
A rejected code is usually a missing dash or a mismatched check digit; double-check both against the printed ISSN on the publication.
Related formats
Related formats: EAN-13 (the symbol ISSN is built on), and ISBN (the equivalent identifier for books).
FAQ
Why does the barcode start with 977?
977 is the fixed prefix bwip-js writes into the underlying EAN-13 symbol for every ISSN, ahead of the ISSN's own digits and a 2-digit issue sequence variant.